History of Western Maryland. J. Thomas Scharf
Lafayette."
10. " May the spirit of liberty liberate the world."
11. "The memory of those who fell in defense of American liberty."
12. " The memory of Dr. Franklin."
13. " May America never want virtuous citizens to defend her liberty."
The feast terminated before ten o'clock, and on the following morning, at seven o'clock, Gen. Washington resumed his journey to Williamsport, where, after a short stay, he took his passage down the river to his home at Mount Vernon. During his visit at Hagerstown the following address was presented to him by the citizens:
"To The President of the United States:
"Sir, — We, the inhabitants of Elizabeth Town and its vicinity, being deeply impressed with your illustrious character, and sensibly awake to your resplendent and innumerable virtues, hail you a hearty welcome!
" We are happy to find that, notwithstanding your perils, toils, and guardianship, you are still able to grant us this first, this greatest of all favors,— your presence!.
" We felicitate ourselves on your exploring our country, and as you already reign in our hearts, so we should think ourselves doubly blessed could we have the honor to be included within your more especial command and jurisdiction,— -within the grand center of virtues.
"Our beloved Chief! Be pleased to accept our most grateful thanks for this honor conferred on us. And may the disposer of all things lengthen out your days, so that you may behold with satisfaction the virtue and prosperity of the people whom you have made free! And when you come to close the last volume of your illustrious actions, may you be crowned with a crown not made with bunds!
" Thomas Sprigg,
" Henry Shryock,
" William Lee,
"In behalf of the whole."
The President returned the following reply:
"Gentlemen, — The cordial welcome which you gave me to Elizabeth Town, and the very flattering expressions of regard contained in your address, claim and receive my grateful and h sincere acknowledgments.
" Estimating as I do the affection and esteem of my fellow-citizens, and conscious that my best pretension to their approbation is founded in an earnest endeavor faithfully to discharge the duties which have been assigned me, I cannot better reply to their confidence than by assuring them that the same impartiality which has heretofore directed, will continue to govern my conduct in the execution of public trusts.
" I offer sincere wishes for your temporal happiness and future felicity.
"G. Washington."
Washington Street, Hagerstown, was so named because Gen. Washington and his escort passed down that thoroughfare in proceeding through the town.
June 8, 1791, the editor of the Washington Spy, at Hagerstown, announced that he had been disappointed in receiving any papers from Baltimore by the last post. " The reason assigned by the person who came as post was that owing to a horse-race at Baltimore the post-office was shut."
On the 28th of December, 1792, the commissioners of Hagerstown prohibited the firing of guns and pistols in the town.
In March, 1792. by direction of the town commissioners, the Hagerstown market was ordered to be opened at sunrise on each market-day, of which notice was to be given by ringing the court-house bell.
On the 4th of May, 1801, Albert Gallatin, then recently appointed Secretary of the United States Treasury, stopped at Hagerstown with his family, on his way to Washington to assume the duties of his office.
In 1794 the following advertisement appeared in the Washington Spy:
" 100 Dollars Reward.
" Whereas, some evil-disposed person or person set up at the Market-House in this Town, last night, an advertisement in the German Language, charging us with having cut down the pole lately erected in this town, termed by the deluded authors of its erection a liberty-pole, and commanding us in menacing terms to erect another in its stead, or that we shall surely be put to death by the sword. And as the authors of said dangerous threats ought to be brought to condign punishment. We hereby offer a reward of One hundred Dollars to any person or persons who will give such information of the author or authors of the said advertisement, or of the person or persons who set up the same, that he or they may be brought to justice; to be paid on conviction.
" Henry Shyrock,
"Rezin Davis,
"Alexander Clagett,
"Adam Ott,
"John Geiger,
" Jacob Shryock,
"William Williams."
This pole had been erected by the whisky insurrectionists, but was cut down at night, and, as shown above, a placard was posted ordering some of the principal inhabitants, mentioning them by name, to put up another pole, but the threat was not regarded except by the publication of the above reward.
One of the earliest celebrations of the Fourth of July was that which took place in 1796. The Washington Blues, commanded by Capt. Jacob Schnebly, the mechanics of the town, and other citizens took part in the parade, A public dinner was given, and toasts were drunk, accompanied by discharges of artillery. Thomas Sprigg was chairman of the meeting, and Daniel Heister was vice-president. In the following year, on the same anniversary,
" a number of citizens, and the Washington Blues, Capt. J, Schnebly, met at Mr. Hager's, at Fountain Inn. After the usual evolutions they proceeded to Mr. Smith's tavern to dinner, where a number of toasts were drunk."
On the 15th of June, 1798, the companies of light infantry commanded by Capts. Rutledge and Davis held a meeting at Hagerstown, and adopted an address to the President concerning the threatened troubles with France. The correspondence which resulted was as follows:
"To The President of the United States:
" Permit us, sir, the companies of infantry commanded by Capts. Rutledge and Davis, of Washington County, and the State of Maryland, to join the general voices of our countrymen in addressing you upon the present important and critical situation of our national affairs; to express our sincere affection for the government of our choice, and our firm determination at every hazard to support it. While we contemplate with the liveliest emotions of sorrow the unhappy issue which your late attempts to accommodate our differences with France are likely to experience, we cannot but derive peculiar consolation from the belief that nothing has been left undone on your part to have insured them a very different fate, and we are persuaded, sir, if the friendly disposition manifested by your instructions to our envoys at Paris had been met with a similar disposition on the part of the present rulers of that nation, the two republics would ere now have been reunited in the closest bonds of amity and friendship. Under this impression, and with full confidence in the wisdom, patriotism, moderation, and energy of our united councils, we deem it our duty to declare that we will support with promptitude and firmness such measures as they may find themselves indispensably called upon to adopt for our mutual defence and security. We hope, sir, that this address will not be less acceptable because a majority exercising the rights of freemen have not only indulged, but freely expressed their opinions, in opposition to certain measures of government. It ought, we conceive, rather to enhance its value, inasmuch as it offers to the world an animating proof that the American people, however they